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Shareware
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Shareware is a method of software distribution and marketing, and not a type of program. In fact, try-before-you-buy software has been discovered by traditional "shelfware" companies, and now, nearly every large software company provides some type of free trial version of their software. Some of those trial versions are shareware, and some aren't. Shareware, traditionally, is software that is published by authors who want you to help with their word-of-mouth advertising. It's more than a free trial; it's a free trial that you can share with your friends. When you find a product that does what you need, you'll buy the full version, usually directly from the author, and nearly always find that if you need product support, you'll get a fast answer from a programmer who worked on the product, and not some help-desk worker reading from a pre-programmed script.
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Shareware isn't a type of software. It's a marketing method. Shareware is any form of software that allows the user to try before they buy. Some companies prefer to name their Shareware version a trial application, a demo, a free trial or demoware. All of which fall under the umbrella label of Shareware.
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Shareware has conditions included in the contract that allow the user to use the software for a limited period of time, usually 30 days, but may vary by author. If you want to continue using it after the free period, it is expected that you will send the author a fee stated in the order form. Most Shareware is much less expensive than commercial software. The average is around $25.
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Shareware and freeware both often come with licensing agreements: the software is only free or available at the quoted shareware price if particular restrictions are observed. For example, a typical restriction is that the software cannot be incorporated into a commercial product. Another common licensing agreement may restrict the software to individual or educational users. Notice that software sometimes comes in several versions. In the most extreme examples there may be freeware versions, shareware versions with extended capabilities, and a fully commercial version with additional features (or, perhaps, pseudofeatures---caveat emptor).
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Shareware software is distributed at low (or sometimes no) cost, but usually requires payment and registration for full legal use. Copies are distributed on a trial basis. You are free to test the software, see if it matches your needs, and decide whether it's a good value. Order forms or advertisements included in the program or on the distribution disk usually tell you how to register the program and what fee is required. Registered users of a shareware program will typically receive a printed manual, an updated copy of the software, often with additional features, and the legal right to use the program in their home or business.
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KMR Consulting is a member of the Association of Shareware Professionals (ASP). ASP wants to make sure that the shareware principle works for you. If you are unable to resolve a shareware-related problem with an ASP member by contacting the member directly, ASP may be able to help. The ASP Ombudsman can help you resolve a dispute or problem with an ASP member, but does not provide technical support for members' products. Please contact the ASP Ombudsman online at http://www.asp-shareware.com/omb .
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